Control mechanism for quotation projecting and similar apparatus



D88. 31, 1940. 11 I ZE 2,226,555

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR QUOTATION PROJECTING AND SIMILAR APPARATUS Original Filed Maroh lo, 1930 Z'Sheets-Sheec 1 INVENTOR 7 Aug tflfli'tzea, firm ATf RNEY Dec. 31, 1940. A. D. EITZEN 2,226,555

I CONTROL MECHANISM FOR QUOTATION PROJECTING AND SIMILAR APPARATUS Original Filed March 10, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 x l I" l' 4 3 z L g L L. .J

INVENTOR I Aug tfiiitmm ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR QUOTATION PROJECTING AND SZMILAR APPARATUS Application March 10, 1930, Serial No. 434,537 Renewed September 18, 1934 25 Claims.

The invention relates to stock quotation prolooting and analogous apparatus and especially to new and improved means for operating the switch or contact in the controlling circuit of the tape puller in accordance with variations in the length of the tape loop between the ticker and the projector, which variations in length may at times be of considerable extent and irregularity, owing to the well known manner in which a ticker operates.

In an approved type of such projection apparatus a mercury switch is employed to close and open the controlling circuit, and heretofore the switch movement has been controlled practically directly by a roll or other follower running on the tape loop, with the operative disadvantage that the switch has a range of movement equal or generally corresponding to the full range of movement of the follower. Thus, as the loop is shortened approaching the point at which the switch should operate, the switch is moved toward circuit breaking position, and then the mercury in the contact chamber or cartridge flows in a proper direction to break circuit; but the shorteningof the loop and consequent movement of the follower do not immediately stop, and in many cases the tape is additionally shortened to a considerable extent with consequent further movement of the switch, which, especially with mercury switches of certain types frequently causes additional movements or flow of the mercury, which in turn cause momentary reclosings of the control circuit, with undesired re-starting and jerking of the tape by the puller, which may rupture the tape, derange the ticker printing mechanism and generally interfere with the desired smooth tape operation and accurate control, as understood by skilled persons.

To obviate these defects or disadvantages and at the same time provide improved and positive means for operating the controlling switch, I provide means intermediate the follower, running on the loop, and the switch, such means being in the present embodiment in the nature of a cam, so constructed and arranged that the full range of switch movement is attained in a relatively small portion of the total travel of the follower, movements of the follower above and below such short range or zone of movement being without effect upon the switch. This switch operating means or cam is so devised that as the loop shortens and the follower approaches the point at which it is desired to open th controlling circuit and stop the tape, the switch is stationary in closed circuit position, and then during a relatively small additional shortening of the loop the switch is moved quickly through its full range of movement to open circuit position, and then during any further shortening of the loop the switch. remains stationary Without possibility of undesired reclosing of the circuit caused by movement of the mercury. Similarly, as the loop begins to lengthen by reason of ticker action while the puller is inactive, when the follower approaches the critical point or operating zone,

the switch is then quickly moved through its full Fig. 3 is a similar view with th parts in an other operative position.

Fig. 4 is a top plan of a portion of the projector and the switch mechanism supported thereon, the switch casing being shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation with the switch case cover removed.

Fig. 1 shows somewhat diagrammatically a typical projection apparatus including a ticker l, projector 2, tape puller 3 driven by a motor l, and rewind mechanism 5. The projector has a light aperture 6 (Figs. 2 and 3) and, tape I as it approaches the aperture passes over a guide 8. The ticker is also preferably so positioned as sufficiently shown in Fig. 1, that the tape between the ticker and projector may be given a rotary half-turn, forming the twist 9, Figs. 1, 4 and 5.

Between the ticker and the projector the tape is formed into a loop I0, the turn or twisted portion 9 being inthis specific arrangement included in the loop.

The switch mechanism proper is contained in a box 12 supported on the projector by struts it. The switch support or body M, is mounted for oscillation on a screw or stud l5 having a hearing in a lug it connected to the body.

The switch proper may be any known or suitable type of mercury switch. As shown it is a cylindrical sealed glass cartridge 2% having two spaced depending mercury pockets 23 with metal terminals or contacts sealed therein. There is a body of mercury in the cartridge and in the pockets and when the switch is in the position of Figs. 3 and 5, this mercury makes continuous contact between the terminals in the pockets. When tilted to another position, as in Fig. 2, the main body of mercury flows toward one end of the cartridge, thus breaking contact between the portions of the mercury in the pockets. The switch cartridge is mounted in clips 22 on the body Hi. The circuit conductors 24 and 25 are brought into the box in a cable 26 and connected to binding posts on a stationary insulating block 21, and connections to the switch terminals may be made in an obvious way, these connections being effected through flexible leads 5| and 52.

A roll 30 runs on the tape adjacent the projector and guide 8, this roll representing broadly any suitable follower which bears on the tape and produces or maintains the loop therein and in turn is controlled by lengthening and shortening of the loop. This roll is carried by an arm 3| extending from a shaft 32 passing through a bearing sleeve 33 in the casing. On the inward end of the shaft is a cam disc 34 having a cam slot including an inner concentric portion 35, an outer concentric or circular portion 36, and an intermediate angular or rise portion 31 of a length which is only a small portion of the total cam length, corresponding to a small part of the total arc of movement of the roll 30 and arm 3|. The switch body l4 has a roll or stud 4|] located in the cam slot so that switch movement is controlled by the cam.

Heretofore the switch body has been connected to the follower such as 30 more directly, as by connecting arm 3| directly to the switch body, or at any rate in such manner that the switch movement corresponds practically to the full range of movement of the follower, with the objectionable results or disadvantages above referred to.

In the invention structure or arrangement, in operation, when the loop is relatively long, as shown for example in Fig. 3, the follower 30 is in a lower position, and stud 40 on the switch body is in the inner circular portion of the cam slot, maintaining the switch in closed circuit position; the motor is running, and the tape is being pulled through the projector. The length of the cam portion 35 allows for greater maximum loop length if desired. As the tape is shortened, cam 34 is rotated to bring its angular port on 31 into engagement with stud 40, and during a relatively small portion of the total movement of follower 3|! and arm 3|, the cam moves the switch body to the position of Fig. 2, and during this movement the switch is moved all the way to open circuit position, breaking the motor circuit and stopping the tape puller promptly as the loop is shortened to the predetermined point; and thereafter if the loop is additionally shortened, because of the momentum of the pulling motor, further movement of arm 3| has no effect on the switch, the stud 40 on the switch body during such movement merely entering the outer circular portion 36 of the cam slot, whereby the switch is held stationary in full open circuit position. The switch action is thus quick and positive, and undesired temporary reclosing of the circuit and other disadvantages of previous structures or arrangements are avoided,.as above sufficiently referred to.

Furthermore, the engagement of the stud 40 with one of the edges of the cam, slots 35 and 36 during the passage of the stud 40 in either cam slot 35 or cam slot 36 will react to effect a yielding restraint on the arm 3| and thereby in turn upon the tape 1 when following the loop iii to prevent any jars being transmitted to the tape when so following the loop ll]. In other words, it has been found that when the arm 3| and follower 30 are not so restrained, due to the fact that the arm will not respond immediately to additional slack or increase in loop formation in turn thereby momentarily to leave the arm unsupported, if the unsupported interval is long enough, the resulting descent of the arm and the subsequent engagement of the tape by the arm will transmit a sudden objectionable jar to the tape when it so re-establishes its engagement with the tape in turn to transmit an objectionable vibration to the tape which must be effectively dissipated so that the vibration is not transmitted to the portion of the tape located at the light aperture. If this vibration is not so dissipated, a blurred picture would result. With the present yieldable restraint of the arm 3| and follower 30 by the stud 4|] with the cam portions 35 and 36, the tape engagement by the arm upon any sudden increase in loop formation is practically imperceptible and consequently such objectionable jar will be effectively overcome.

Similarly, as the loop is lengthened by delivery of tape from the ticker while the puller is inactive, the switch is moved to closed circuit position to start the puller action during a small movement of the loop follower and arm in relation to the total range of movement.

It is usually desirable to apply frictional retarding force to the tape at a point approaching the light aperture. For this purpose I show a frictional retarding member 5!] having its rounded lower end in engagement with the tape above the center rib 8a of the guide 8. The retarder is carried by an arm 55 pivotally mounted at 53 and provided with a slidable weight 53 with set screw 54 so that the friction effect may be properly regulated by moving the weight. The tape is thus properly tensioned as it passes over the light aperture and to the tape puller, and jerking of the tape at points anterior to the retarding device is thus practically prevented.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications maybe made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a stock quotation projection machine having a loop of irregularly, and at times, widely, varying dimensions formed in the tape between the ticker and projector during operation, the combination with a tape puller, of a follower on the loop, and switch mechanism including a con tact in a circuit controlling the tape puller and means for making and breaking contact to control puller action during a small part of the total range of movement of the follower, said means being adapted to be operated by said follower and to exercise a yielding restraint upon the movements of said follower.

2., In a stock quotation projection machine having a loop of irregularily, and at times, widely, varying dimensions formed in the tape between the ticker and projector during operation, the combination with a tape puller, of a follower on the loop, and switch mechanism including a contact in a circuit controlling the tape puller and means for making and breaking contact to control puller action during a small part of the total range of movement of the follower in either direction, said means being adapted to be operated by said follower and to exercise a yielding restraint upon the movements of said follower.

3. In a stock quotation projection machine having a loop formed in the tape between the ticker and projector during operation, the combination with a tape puller, of a follower on the loop, and switch mechanism including a contact in a circuit controlling the tape puller and means for making andbreaking contact to control puller action during a small part of the 15 total range of movement of the follower, the contact being unaffected by follower movement in either direction beyond'the stated short movement of the follower.

4. In a stock quotation projection machine having a loop of irregularly, and at times, wide- 1y, varying dimensions formed in the tape between the ticker and projector during operation, the combination with a tape puller, of a follower on the loop, and a switch including a contact in the puller control circuit, operating means intermediate the loop follower and the switch and constructed and arranged to move the switch from full open to full closed position during a small part of the total range of movement of the follower, said means being adapted to be operated by said follower and to exercise a yielding restraint upon the movements of said follower.

5. In a stock quotation projection machine having a loop formed in the tape between the ticker and projector during operation, the combination with a tape puller, of a follower on the loop, and a switch including a contact in the puller control circhit, operating means intermediate the loop follower and the switch and constructed and arranged to move the switch from full open to full closed position during a small part of the total range of movement of the follower, the switch being positively maintained in full open or full closed position during movement of the follower beyond the stated short active range.

6. In a stock quotation projection machine r having a loop formed in the tape between the ticker and projector during operation, the combination with a tape puller, of a follower on the loop, mercury switch mechanism including a contact in a circuit controlling the tape puller,

and means for" making and breaking contact to control puller action during a small part'of the total range of movement of the follower, said means being adapted to be operated by said follower, and to exercise a yielding restraint upon the movements of said follower.

7. In a stock quotation projection machine having a loop formed in the tape between the ticker and projector during operation, the combination with a tape puller, of a follower on the loop, mercury switch mechanism including a contact in a circuit controlling the tape puller, and

means for making and breaking contact to control puller action during a small part of the total range of movement of the follower, the contact being unaffected by follower movement in either direction beyond the restricted active zone of movement of the follower.

8. In a stock quotation projection machine having a loop formed in the tape between the ticker and projector during operation, the corn- 75 bination with a tape puller, of a follower on the loop, a mercury switch including a contact in the puller control circuit, and operating means intermediate the loop follower and the switch and constructed and arranged to move the switch from full open to full closed position during a small part of the total range of movement of the follower.

9. In a stock quotation projection machine having a loopformed in the tape between the ticker and projector during operation, the com bination with a tape puller, of a follower on the loop, a mercury switch mounted for oscillation, and means connected to the loop follower and acting on the switch and constructed and arranged to effect total switch movement during a small part of the total range of movement of the follower, said means being adapted to be operated by said follower, and to exercise a yielding restraint upon the movements of said follower.

10. In a stock quotation projection machine having a loop formed in the tape between the ticker and projector during operation, the combination with a tape puller, of a follower on the loop, a mercury switch mounted for oscillation, and adapted to make and break the puller-actuating circuit by said oscillation, and a cam connected to the loop follower and acting on the switch and constructed and arranged to effect total switch movement during a small part of the total range of movement of the follower, said cam being adapted to exercise a yielding restraint upon the movements of the follower.

11. In a stock quotation projection machine having a loop formed in the tape between the ticker and projector during operation, the combination with a tape puller, of a follower on thepart of the total range of arm movement, and

to prevent such oscillation at other times.

12. In projection apparatus of the class described, having a loop formed in the tape during operation, the combination with a tape puller,

of means including a switch mechanism for controlling the operation of said'tape puller, said switch mechanism including a switch body mounted foroscillation, clips thereon, and a mercury switch cartridge in the clips, an oscillating cury switch cartridge in the clips, an oscillating cam, a stud on the switch body co-operating with the cam, and an arm connected to the cam including a switch body mounted for oscillation, clips thereon, and a merand having a follower to co-operate with the tape loop in the projection apparatus, the switch being of a type including a dependent mercury pocket. 7

-14. In projection apparatus of the class described, having a loop formed in the tape during operation, the combination with a tape puller,

of means including a switch mechanism for controlling the operation of said tape puller, said switch mechanism including a switch body mounted for oscillation, clips thereon, and a mercury switch cartridge in the clips, an oscillating cam, a stud on the switch body co-operating with the cam, and an arm connected to the cam and having a follower to co-operate with the tape loop in the projection apparatus, the switch cartridge including a dependent mercury pocket.

15. In projection apparatus of the class de-, scribed, having a loop formed in the tape during operation, the combination with a tape puller, of means including a switch mechanism for controlling the operation of said tape puller, said switch mechanism including a switch body mounted for oscillation, clips thereon, and a mercury switch cartridge in the clips, an oscillating cam, a stud on the switch body cooperating with the cam, and an arm connected to the cam and having a follower to cooperate with the tape loop in the projection apparatus, the switch being of a type including depending mercury pockets and contacts therein.

16. In projection apparatus of the class described, having a loop formed in the tape during operation, the combination with a tape puller, of means including a switch mechanism for controlling the operation of said tape puller, said switch mechanism including a switch body mounted for oscillation, clips thereon, and a mercury switch cartridge in the clips, an oscillating cam, a stud on the switch body cooperating with the cam, and an arm connected to the cam and having a follower to cooperate with the tape loop in the projection apparatus, the switch cartridge including depending mercury pockets and contacts therein.

17. In combination, a web, a data recording device for said web, means for feeding said web across a predetermined space, a control mechanism having two positions of operation, means controlled by the web between the recording device and said space, when the web is reduced to a predetermined minimum length for actuating said mechanism to one position and when the web is increased to a predetermined greater length, to actuate said mechanism to the other position, means for retaining said control mechanism in each actuated position until said web has decreased or increased to a length sufficient to actuate the mechanism to the other position and means controlled by said mechanism in said first position to arrest the movement of the tape and in the second position to start the movement thereof.

18. Tape feeding means for a projection machine of the type in which a tape derived at varying speed from a ticker, is drawn across a light aperture, said tape feeding means including a tape puller, a driving means connected to operate said tape puller, means engageable with said tape anteriorof said light aperture and operable upon variations in the length of tape between the ticker and the projector, means to start and stop said driving means, and means connecting said tape engageable means and said starting and stopping means for maintaining said driving means in operation for at least a predetermined period during which said tape engageable means moves between spaced limits each time said driving means is actuated.

19. Tape feeding means for a device receiving tape from a variable speed supplying device ineluding a tape puller, a driving means therefor, a switch operatively connected to said driving means to start and stop the same, a means engaging the tape and movable thereby by variations in the length thereof between two limits, and a connection between said tape engaging means and said switch to permit movement of said tape engaging means through the central portion of its movement without actuating said switch, but to cause movement of said switch when said tape engaging means approaches an extreme position.

20. Tape feeding means for a stock quotation projection machine of the type in which a tape, derived as it is discharged by a ticker, is drawn across a light aperture, said means including a tape puller, a motor driving the tape puller, and means controlling the said motor including a means actuated by variations in the length of the tape between said ticker and said light aperture to actuate said motor for at least a predetermined minimum amount of time, said motor controlling means including a means for starting said motor when a maximum length of tape between said ticker and light aperture is formed, and for stopping said motor when a shorter minimum length of tape between said ticker and light aperture is formed.

21. Tape feeding means for tape derived at varying speed from a ticker comprising a tape puller, means for operating said tape puller, and control means for said operating means, said control means including means engageable with said tape between said ticker and said tape puller to create a loop of tape, means for starting and stopping said tape puller, and means connecting said means engageable with said tape and said starting and stopping means to start said tape puller when one size of loop is created and to stop said tape puller when a different size of loop is created.

22. Tape feeding means for a stock quotation projection machine of the type in which a tape, derived at varying speed from a ticker, is drawn across a light aperture, said tape feeding means comprising a tape puller, a. driving means for said tape puller, and control means including meansfor starting and stopping said driving means, movable means engaging the tape anterior to the light aperture and movable thereby, said tape engaging means creating a loop in said tape, and means on said tape engaging means operating said starting and stopping means at spaced points in the movement thereof to start said driving means when a loop of one size is created and to stop said driving means when a relatively smaller minimum loop is created.

23. Tape feeding means for tape derived at varying speed from a ticker comprising a tape puller, means for operating said tape puller, and control means for said operating means including means engageable with said tape between said ticker and said tape puller to create a loop of tape, and means in said control means actuated by said engageable means and operable into one position by a relatively large maximum loop to actuate said control means to start said operating means and operable into another position by a relatively small minimum loop to actuate said control to stop actuation of said operating means.

24. Tape feeding means for a stock projection machine of the type in which a tape, derived at varying speed from a ticker, is drawn across a light aperture, said tape feeding means comprising a tape puller for pulling the tape past a light aperture, a motor, a switch operatively connected to start and stop said motor, and means making and breaking said switch movable into two positions, said last named means engaging said tape anterior of the light aperture and sensitive to variations in length of said tape, means mounting said making and breaking means to actuate said switch in one direction in each of said positions, said making and breaking means operable by a predetermined maximum length of tape between said ticker and light aperture to move to one of said positions to operate said switch to start said motor, and operable by a relatively shorter length of tape to move to the other of said positions to operate said switch to stop said motor.

25. Tape feeding means for a stock projection machine of the type in which a tape, derived at varying speed from a ticker, is drawn across a light aperture, said tape feeding means comprising a tape puller for pulling the tape past a light aperture, a motor, a switch operatively connected to said motor to start and stop said motor, means engaging the tape movable between two positions by the variation in length of the tape between said ticker and light aperture for actuating said switch, and means connecting said switch and said last named means operable in one position to actuate said switch to start said motor to pull said tape and to subsequently decrease said length of tape to move said tape engaging means into the other of said positions and operable in the other position of said tape engaging means to actuate said switch to stop operation of said motor.

AUGUST D. EITZEN. 

